All the possibilities that had been abandoned due to differences in social status were now open.
But why was it that as people began to call Printz “Prince Hispenril” more often than “Sir Printz,” Bianca started to distance herself from him instead? At first, he thought it was his imagination, but he couldn’t help noticing her stiff manner of speaking and increasingly cold attitude. Little by little, the calls and smiles that had been like a drop of sweet water to a thirsty man were completely withdrawn.
The time he had spent with her before felt like the courtship of new lovers, and now it seemed as though they had broken up—so much so that he was left bewildered. He was anxious and felt wronged.
Then, today, something happened.
He was strolling through the palace garden to soothe his empty heart. To escape the scorching sun, he had…